League 1 round-up: West Wales claim historic win, Doncaster nil North Wales, Newcastle thump Skolars
There was plenty of drama and history was made in the latest round of Betfred League 1 action.
With league leaders Whitehaven enjoying a week off, second-placed Newcastle closed the gap to two points with a 34-16 victory over London Skolars.
Thunder led 18-0 early in the second half after tries from Mikey Lewis and Matthew Wright (2), but Skolars eventually clicked into gear, levelling the scores through Omari Caro, Jerome Yates and Jordan Williams. Wright’s completed his hat-trick late on, while Nicholas Newman and Muizz Mustapha also crossed to inflict a fifth straight defeat on the Londoners.
North Wales Crusaders’ pursuit of a play-off spot suffered a blow after they were beaten 30-0 at home by Doncaster.
Dons, who moved up to fourth after the win, crossed courtesy of Matty Chrimes, Kyle Kesik, Jason Tali, Connor Bower and Connor Scott.
West Wales stole all the headlines this weekend as they claimed their first ever professional win against Coventry.
The Raiders led 20-0 at the break thanks to tries from Dalton Desmond-Walker, Ash Bateman, Morgan Evans and Archie Snook. A Reece Rance try early in the second half threatened a comeback from the visitors, but second scores for Bateman and Snook, plus a try for Stephen Parry, completed a superb afternoon for the Raiders, despite Coventry crossing twice late on to make it 44-16.
In the final game of the round, Workington produced a superb display to ruthlessly dispatch Keighley 52-4 at Derwent Park.
Chris Thorman’s side had nine different try scorers, with Declan O’Donnell, Jonathan Walsh, Fuifui Moimoi, Carl Forber, Tom Curwen, Gordon Maudlin, Sam Hewitt and Scott Rooke all crossing the whitewash. Cougars only try came in the first half via Jason Muranka.
League 1 round 16 results:
Newcastle Thunder 34-16 London Skolars
West Wales Raiders 44-16 Coventry Bears